Presidents Race Facts, History, and Trivia

The Presidents Race is a fixture at Washington Nationals home baseball games, and quickly became a fan favorite despite the fact that Teddy Roosevelt did not win a race for over six years.

The Racing Presidents

Participants in the presidents race include the 4 presidents whose images appear on Mount Rushmore, plus one new member who was introduced for the 2013 season:

#1 George Washington, our 1st president

#3 Thomas Jefferson, our 3rd president

#16 Abraham Lincoln, our 16th president

#26 Teddy Roosevelt, our 26th president

#27 William Howard Taft, our 27th president

Rules of the Race

There are few rules to the presidents race. In the middle of the 4th inning of every home game, the racing presidents are introduced individually as they enter the park through the center field fence. They then race along the warning track, turning for the final sprint along the first base foul line toward a makeshift finish line near the Washington Nationals’ home dugout. Starting in 2012, the team experimented with mixing things up by shifting occasional races to the 3rd base side.

Presidents Race History and Records

Most notable among presidents race records is Teddy Roosevelt’s winless streak, which lasted from the race’s inception on July 21, 2006 through the final race of the regular season on October 3, 2012. Roosevelt lost 525 races before notching his first victory.

2006 Presidents Race – Champion: Thomas Jefferson

In 2006, the presidents raced officially began during a July home stand, just after the Lerner family purchased the team from Major League Baseball. In this shortened first season, the presidents race remained a hotly contested contest between Thomas Jefferson and Abe Lincoln until the very end, with Tom pulling away on the very last game of the season. Teddy Roosevelt did not draw a lot of attention to himself. He simply failed to win a single race.

Final 2006 Standings

Thomas Jefferson

15

Abraham Lincoln

14

George Washington

7

Teddy Roosevelt

0

2007 Presidents Race Champion: George Washington

The first full season for the racing presidents was 2007, and it was a bit of a coming out party for Teddy Roosevelt, who stepped up the antics on opening day with a zip line stunt from the roof of RFK Stadium, and began losing in more spectacular ways. The Let Teddy Win movement began to draw attention, but unfortunately for Teddy, the winner’s circle continued to be elusive, and as the summer wore on, it became clear that this was to be George Washington’s year. Our first president surged ahead, and had the season title easily wrapped up by mid-September.

Final 2007 Standings

George Washington

33

Thomas Jefferson

26

Abraham Lincoln

22

Teddy Roosevelt

0

2008 Presidents Race Champion: Abe Lincoln

Many anticipated that Teddy Roosevelt would christen the new Nationals Park with an opening day presidents race victory. Unfortunately, Teddy was caught cheating in the first of many mishaps in 2008 which included among other things encounters with panthers, bananas, and Martha Washington. The big surprise was Abe Lincoln’s emergence as a dominant sprinter, leading many observers to speculate whether Abe was juicing. “Honest” Abe had no competition for the 2008 title. Only a final day rain-out curtailed his bid for a 50-win season.

Final 2008 Standings

2009 Presidents Race Champion: Abe Lincoln

Abe Lincoln continued his presidents race dominance in 2009, pulling away from the pack late in the season, and frequently taunting his opponents. Teddy passed the 250 loss milestone in July, and was distracted at various times by clowns, weather, and Twitter. That Cat returned to make several appearances, most notably when getting Teddy disqualified for “unauthorized use of a feline.” Teddy mysteriously missed 5 races due to injury late in the season, but his most notorious moment came on the road in Pittsburgh, when he was leveled by a racing pierogie on national television.

Videos and race-by-race results can be found on the 2013 standings page.

Final 2013 Standings

George Washington

25

Abraham Lincoln

23

Thomas Jefferson

13

William Howard Taft

11

Teddy Roosevelt

11

2014 Presidents Race – Teddy finally breaks through

The 2014 season got off to an exciting start as Teddy Roosevelt won on opening day. It was the first time Teddy ever held the lead in the presidents race standings, and the Bull Moose really went on a tear after the all star break, maintaining a lead in the standings entering the season’s final month, then holding off a late charge by Abraham Lincoln to take his first presidents race season title. Meanwhile, the Nationals finished with the best record in the National League, and had a regular season record of 18-8 when Teddy Roosevelt won. Teddy won all three postseason races before the Nationals were eliminated from the playoffs.

Final 2014 Standings

#26 Teddy Roosevelt

29

#16 Abraham Lincoln

25

#27 William Howard Taft

12

#3 Thomas Jefferson

11

#1 George Washington

10

*Includes 3 postseason races

More Fun Facts

The presidents race started on video. The predecessor to the presidents race was the PNC Dollar Derby, introduced in the 2005 season as an animated race on the RFK Stadium video scoreboard, featuring famous figures on American currency. Rooting interests were tied to sections of the stadium. George Washington ($1 bill, orange seats), Abraham Lincoln ($5 bill, red seats), and Alexander Hamilton ($10 bill, yellow seats) raced in go-karts around Washington, DC, with one of them always crashing before the end of the race. In 2006, the Dollar Derby was replaced by the presidents race, featuring the four Mt. Rushmore presidents, but it remained a scoreboard-only feature until mid-season.

The first live presidents race was held on July 21, 2006, when the Washington Nationals hosted a “Grand Reopening” of RFK Stadium after the Lerner family had been named as the team’s new owners by major league baseball. In a demonstration of commitment to the Washington Nationals fans, the team kicked off a “Paint the Town Red” weekend, during which fans received giveaways and new investments in the fan experience were unveiled. These included a new food court at RFK stadium as well the live-action costumed racing presidents, a brainchild of then entertainment manager Josh Golden. The Nationals defeated the Chicago Cubs 7-6.

The presidents race winner is not always predetermined. While some theatrics are occasionally planned in advance, the race more often than not has been real. Once the presidents break for the finish line, there has historically been only one rule handed down by the Nationals: Until October 3, 2012 Teddy was not allowed to win.

The racing president costumes were created by Randy Carfagno Productions, a New York City manufacturer of theatrical puppets and costumes. When a costume malfunctions, it must be sent back to New York, as happened during the 2009 season. The Nats racing presidents wear regular sneakers instead of cleats during the race, because they spend so much time cruising the Nationals Park stands before and during games.

A second set of presidents was created in 2010. When the Washington Nationals returned from the All Star break and an extended road trip in July, 2010, the racing presidents received a significant facelift. The team declined to comment on the change, but it appeared to be designed to make the presidents look more friendly to the kids. Before the facelift, only Teddy and Tom sported grins, but after the botox treatment, all the presidents were smiling.

The “classic” presidents returned to the field and ran nearly all the races for the 2011 season, with the friendlier, “new look” presidents saved for occasional public appearances. A year later, the 2012 season opened with the “new look” presidents once again taking center stage, where they stayed only through the first homestand, but eventually came back as what appear to be permanent replacements.

Teddy’s costume is significantly shorter than the other racing presidents. Teddy is 9′ tall. George Washington is 9’5″. Abe Lincoln is 10′ 0″, and Thomas Jefferson is the tallest at 10′ 1″. As the most top-heavy president, Jefferson tends to fall more often than the others. The height of the newest president, William Howard Taft, has not been disclosed.

Specific president costumes are not “operated” by the same person for each game. The many members of the mascot team switch off from day to day. Special guests were occasionally invited to partake in the race during the first season, but this practice was curtailed after the presidents race soared in popularity, presumably to make sure nobody would let Teddy win.

Teddy Roosevelt has been disqualified several times. Nationals fans have been teased on several occasions when Teddy Roosevelt used illegal tactics to win the presidents race (descending a zip line, riding a golf cart or rickshaw…); however on each such occasion he was immediately disqualified, and his winless streak continued. In the 2008 inaugural game at Nationals Park, Teddy attempted to take a shortcut across the Nationals Park outfield. Nationals mascot Screech, who judges from the finish line, disqualified Teddy in 2008 for cutting the outfield corner and for using a motor scooter. In 2009, he was inexplicably disqualified for “unauthorized use of a feline”, and in the 2010 pre-season, it was unnecessary roughness.

There have been 14 presidents race doubleheaders. On the rare occasion that a baseball game extends to 13 innings or more, the racing presidents return to the ball field in the middle of the 13th inning to run another presidents race. There were three such extra races at RFK Stadium, and there have been nine at Nationals Park. The first was on June 20, 2008, during a 14-inning game against the Texas Rangers. Others occured on September 19, 2008 vs. the San Diego Padres, on April 24, 2010 during a 13-inning loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers, on August 26, 2010 during a 13-inning victory over the St. Louis Cardinals, and on September 17, 2011 during a 13-inning affair vs. the Florida Marlins. There were three during the 2012 season: during a 13-inning win over the Cincinnati Reds on April 13, 2012, during a 14-inning loss to the New York Yankees on June 16, 2012, and during a 13-inning victory over the Braves early in the morning of August 21, 2012. In 2014, there were extra races during a 15-inning loss to the Cincinnati Reds on May 19, a 13-inning loss to the Atlanta Braves on June 20, and an epic 18-inning playoff loss on October 4.

Presidents race bobblehead nights were featured during the 2007 season, and were an instant hit with Washington Nationals fans at RFK Stadium. Attendance on the racing presidents bobblehead nights averaged 33,459 — a 42% increase over that season’s average attendance on non-bobblehead nights. The fifth racing president, William Howard Taft, finally got his own bobblehead night on August 17, 2014.

The racing presidents have a 3-1 record on their bobblehead nights. In the 2007 season, George Washington (July 4), Thomas Jefferson (August 4) , and Abe Lincoln (August 18), each won the presidents race on their bobblehead nights, leading many to speculate that Teddy Roosevelt’s first victory would finally arrive on his bobblehead night. On September 1, 2007, Teddy was carried in on a throne as the other presidents were held back by secret service agents, but the throne was dropped and George ran by him to keep Teddy’s winless streak alive.

The racing presidents have a 3-1 record on their “T-Shirt Tuesdays.” In 2008, the Nationals introduced “Free T-Shirt Tuesdays”, and gave away racing president t-shirts on selected nights. Again, George Washington (May 20), Thomas Jefferson (June 3) , and Abe Lincoln (July 8), each won the presidents race on their T-Shirt Tuesdays, but Teddy did not come through. On August 12, 2008, Teddy gave up a late lead as he was distracted by a panther that ran onto the field.

GEICO became the official sponsor of the racing presidents in 2006. In 2006, GEICO became the official sponsor of the racing presidents. To kick off the race, a costumed gecko enters the field along with Washington Nationals mascot Screech, and the two characters wait at the temporary finish line for the costumed presidents. The Gecko has rarely participated in the race itself, but it has twice been run over by the presidents at the finish line.

The presidents race route and distance has been changed three times. In 2006 and 2007 at RFK Stadium, entered the park with a running start from a tunnel in the right field corner. The straight-line race route followed the first base foul line from right field toward a finish line near home plate. With the move to the new Nationals Park in 2008, the presidents were introduced individually, and the race route was lengthened to stretch from center field to the far edge of the Nationals’ dugout, after which the racing presidents would exit the field into the stands in Section 127. Unfortunately, the new route lasted through just one homestand. After Major League Baseball complained that the race was delaying the game, the route was shortened and the live introductions of each president was scrapped.

For the last game of the 2011 season, after Nationals players tried twice to interfere on Roosevelt’s behalf, the team reversed the course to run along the left field warning track, a route that was repeated for the 2012 season opener. The Nationals began changing the route more regularly in 2012. A superstitious plan to switch directions only after the Nationals lost a game was scrapped after two homestands that featured lengthy winning streaks.

The presidents race to music by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers. Since 2013, the race has been accompanied by Tom Petty’s song “Runnin’ Down a Dream.” In previous years, the team has played Los Lobos 1987 cover of the 1958 hit “Come On, Let’s Go” by Richie Valens. As the presidents leave the field, they historically were accompanied by the 1982 hit “I Ran” by English new wave band A Flock of Seagulls. In 2011, the Nationals promised new victory songs which would vary depending on who wins, but it never happened.

George Washington won the final presidents race at RFK Stadium. At the Washington Nationals’ final home game at RFK Stadium on September 23, 2007, many fans expected to see Teddy Roosevelt finally win the presidents race. However, Teddy appeared on the stadium video screen at the new Nationals Park — apparently having arrived for the race at the wrong location. George Washington won easily to complete the 2007 presidents race season and extend Teddy’s losing streak into another year.

George Washington won the first presidents race at Nationals Park. On Saturday, March 22, 2008, the Washington Nationals hosted a limited-attendance baseball game for a few thousand fans at Nationals Park between the George Washington University and Saint Josephs University baseball teams. Since this was a “dry run” designed to test all the concessions and in-game entertainment, fans in attendance were treated to the first “unofficial” presidents race at Nationals Park. To the chants of “Let Teddy Win!”, Teddy came up short as George Washington was first to cross the tape. Eight days later, at the Washington Nationals’ inaugural regular season game at Nationals Park, George also captured the first official presidents race, beating Teddy at the wire.

You can meet and pose for photos with the racing presidents at Nationals Park. The Nationals’ stadium offers fans many opportunities to meet and pose for photos with the racing presidents. In 2010, Teddy started greeting fans before the games outside the Navy Yard Metro stop on Half Street NE. Approximately 30 to 60 minutes before the game, all of the racing presidents can be found greeting visitors and posing for photos inside the ticket gates at Nationals Park’s main centerfield plaza entrance. After the presidents race is completed in the middle of the 4th inning, the racing presidents return to the Nationals Park concourse behind section 131, where they pose as a group with fans through the 5th inning.

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31 Responses

it’s well known by all that teddy roosevelt is an extremely athletic man, right? he founded numerous initiatives for activities outdoors and in nature… exhorted boys to be active and manly… just go read his quotes on the monument at teddy roosevelt island. There is something wrong… someone is putting something in his food to sedate him, or something.

It’s well known that the TRUE stadium race is, of course, the fine racing sausages of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. You guys can have your little Presidents thing, that’s cool, we can share. I hear Pittsburgh races some dumplings or something – a little too “food” for comfort, but again, the good people of Wisconsin will be benevolent.

But you call up the website that rated your race the best in the country and demand a recount. Pay some respect to your elders!

As a lifelong “TR” fan, I’d like to post my theory on Teddy’s seemingly endless losing streak. I believe his first race victory will come once the Nationals make their inaugural appearance in the playoffs. The anticipation of finally seeing him win, from a public relations perspective, would be best viewed in the light of post-season play. Sadly, this means, we will be waiting for Teddy’s moment of glory for quite some time. I’d also like to point out (thank you Andrew) that Teddy has beaten the Orioles Bird in a head-to-head race, but this victory was not counted as it was deemed an exhibition. Keep the faith Gnats fans! Teddy and our hometown nine will be victorius!

It’s a shame that one of our greatest presidents is portrayed as a buffoon. I realize that it is meant to be in good fun but I grew up admiring TR and his many diverse accomplishments. Back on Long Island, we visited his summer home, “Sagamore Hill” in Oyster Bay. He was obviously influencial enough as a statesman to be enshrined on Mt. Rushmore. Yet in DC, we see him as some sort of punchline to a joke. Totally disgraceful!!!!!

If the Nats really want to end their perpetual loosing streak and are willing to try anything, how about abandoning the Teddy always loosing schtick, and let him win? Maybe a future where both Teddy and the Nats are winners is an easier one to get to than any of the Nats winners, Teddy still a loser future . . .

Ladies and gentlemen. What we have witnessed here is something that will be talked about for many years and will come to be known as the “Curse of Colonel Roosevelt.” The Washington Nationals will not achieve success on the field until AFTER the curse is broken, not before as some have suggested by TR winning a post season Presidents race. There will not BE a post season until TR is vindicated.

[…] not a TR fan but I can’t support the smear campaign Washington is waging against him. The Nationals are working on some sort of conspiracy to tarnish the legacy of Teddy Roosevelt. I find it rather […]

[…] There was some speculation this past weekend that Teddy might win the Presidents Race on Memorial Day. Alas, Teddy did not win that one either. He remains defeated, the only one of the four racing presidents to have not won the race since it began back in 2006. […]

[…] DC resident that she is, Mrs H has been following not so much the Nationals as their enormous felt president mascots’ legraces and the shenanigans that ensue — and in particular the shockingly unjust treatment of our […]

[…] “Let Teddy Win” is possibly coming to fruition. Baseball is a game of optimism… every team is number 1 before the first pitch of the first opening day game. Every fan truly believes this year is the year. Some fans and teams are spoiled… yes you Yankee fans… some teams and fans are constantly disappointed… yes you Cubs. Regardless, baseball is a sport and passion that is a long and sometimes torturous event. April to October. 162 games, day-in and day-out… the games seem to pile on to one another, and before the 2012 season… the losses seemed to pile on and pile on. […]

[…] won plenty of times, Theodore Roosevelt has never won. Ever. Despite the fact that they’ve been racing since July of 2006. There even was a Ken Burns mini-documentary about it on ESPN, where Senator John McCain declared […]

[…] you win every race (and, other than the inaugural season when Washington won, Lincoln has, in fact, either won or tied for overall wins). Teddy dug a ditch — actually, he told other people to dig a ditch. Washington made up the […]

Senator — with respect, you need to know that Teddy is NEVER going to win this race. Too many things going against it.

First of all, is TR himself. Several times, I’ve seen Teddy in the lead, then veer into the stands to talk with some voter who beckoned to him — irresistible to any politician. Another time he wanted a hot dog. Although a great hunter and outdoorsman, he is kind of clumsy. He has tripped over bats, tarps, gloves — and once over nothing. A blade of grass, I think.

Second, as long as great Americans like George Washington and Abraham Lincoln trip him … shove him aside …ellbow past him .. step on his heels — he cannot win. Once, the noble Thomas Jefferson pulled Teddy down from behind by the collar! In football, it would be a personal foul. In politics, all’s fair.

Senator, Teddy Roosevelt will simply NEVER win this race. Between his own varying attentions, and his surprisingly less than scrupulous opponents, he simply can’t.

Ask Victoria’s Secret to sell full-coverage khaki jump suits … ask the birds to fly backward … ask the Man in the Moon to kiss the Sun … ask Barry Obama to be responsible, truthful, and fair – and to take responsibility for a 16 Trillion Dollar Deficit … but don’t ever expect Theodore Roosevelt to win that foot race at Nationals Park. The Laws of Nature, Physics, and Politics just won’t have it!

One great aspect about the President’s Race, besides showing icons of this great country cheating and winning by pushing downing the other guy (you know, getting ahead by any means – – something we need to teach the children), is it adds in a big way to the carnival atmosphere of Nationals Park. Baseball can only survive by offering more than baseball. The 7th inning stretch needs to include a tractor pull in center field.